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Day named director of news and editorial services at Princeton

Posted May 2, 2012; 10:00 a.m.

by Eric Quiñones

Daniel Day, a veteran media executive and journalist who has significant experience in emerging and traditional forms of communications, has been appointed director of news and editorial services in the Office of Communications at Princeton University. His appointment is effective May 14.

Day will join the University from The Modesto (Calif.) Bee, where he has served as director of interactive media and audience development. Prior to joining the Bee, he spent more than 20 years with The Associated Press (AP), where he held a variety of editorial and organizational leadership roles.

In his new role at Princeton, Day will oversee the team responsible for writing, editing and coordinating news and feature stories for the University's core website and a wide range of print and online publications; media relations; social media; emergency communications; and other priority messaging for external and internal audiences.

"Having served as a senior executive at The Associated Press and in daily newspaper management, Dan responds to breaking news, manages messaging and handles people issues adeptly and effectively," said Lauren Ugorji, assistant vice president for communications, to whom Day will report. "As a strategic thinker who has immersed himself in new media and audience development and as an experienced collaborator, he will be instrumental in helping our team continue to serve the University well."

"I am honored to be joining the Princeton staff and delighted at the opportunity to represent such a great university," Day said. "Princeton has so many stories to tell, from its strong leadership and outstanding faculty to its diverse student body and its long tradition of service to the nation and beyond."

In his most recent role at The Modesto Bee, Day oversaw aspects of the newspaper's online and social media operations and strategy, including news coverage and advertising in multiple formats. During his seven-year tenure with the Bee, he also served as managing editor for its print and online news operations.

Day previously spent 23 years with the AP, one of the world's oldest and largest news organizations. He served as chief of four bureaus — in Trenton, N.J., San Francisco, Seattle and Omaha, Neb. — overseeing news, photo and administrative operations while marketing the AP's services to newspapers and websites. He also spent four years as general executive in the newspaper membership department at AP's headquarters in New York City, supervising the organization's relationships with U.S. newspapers.

Day's other AP appointments included serving as a correspondent and news editor in Omaha, and as a newsman and broadcast editor in Milwaukee. He began his newspaper career as a reporter with The Daily Times in Ottawa, Ill.

Prior to joining the Bee, he served as a media strategist with the public relations firm Stern and Associates in Cranford, N.J.

Day holds a bachelor's degree in classics from the College of the Holy Cross and a master's degree in journalism from Marquette University. His professional activities have included serving on the board of directors of the First Amendment Coalition and local chapters of the Radio and Television News Directors Association and the Society of Professional Journalists.

Day succeeds Cass Cliatt, who is now vice president for communications at Franklin & Marshall College.